She is on the fast-track to becoming a national treasure as well as being one of Debrett’s ‘500 most influential people’.
But it turns out that champion baker Nadiya Hussain likes nothing better than to kick back with a Fat Rascal and a browse through York’s cafés and shops.
Nadiya has been sharing her favourite city haunts with the Telegraph.
The 2015 winner of the Great British Bake Off lived in Leeds for many years – a city that appeals to her because of its “slower pace”. And during her time up here she would often head to York for a family day out.
“It has endearing and enchanting old world charm, the perfect antidote for an escape,” she told the paper.
“I lived in Yorkshire for 11 years and it felt like a safe, easy option for my kids, too.”
So where are her York picks?
Drinks
As well as the Museum Street café, she is also a fan of Bettys in St Helen’s Square, and the Hairy Fig on Fossgate.
As a non-drinker she turned to friends for bar recommendations: the Evil Eye on Stonegate, “which serves Asian fusion food and cocktails, is a favourite”.
Lunches
There’s also a thumbs up for Star Inn The City, which celebrates its third anniversary this month, with its “fresh local British produce” and “wonderful riverside terrace”.
And she’s partial to the fat rascals she’s picked up at the York Food and Drink Festival, which she describes as “a Yorkshire scone/ tea cake hybrid with almonds and glacé cherries that’s almost the size of your head”.
Dinners
First up is Rustique (Castlegate and Lendal), “a fantastic French restaurant known for its French onion soup and steak frites”.
Over on Goodramgate she praises the Lime House as “a cosy bistro serving contemporary British food”.
Alternatively, “if you fancy a little bit of everything” – and who doesn’t – Nadiya suggests Ambiente Tapas (Goodramgate and Fossgate) for “Mediterranean tapas dishes with a Yorkshire twist”.
Shopping
“There is a wonderful antique shop, the Flax and Twine, just off the main street that sells vintage cake tins and old jelly moulds,” says Nadiya. To be more precise, it’s on Shambles.
She also mentions the “incredible” fudge at the Fudge Kitchen on Low Petergate, before recommending you seek out the “talented caricature artist in the city centre – he always has huge queues because he has more than 30 years’ experience”.
Places to visit
With two sons and a daughter, Nadiya’s first stop on a visit is York’s Chocolate Story: “the kids are mesmerised by it”.
She also likes the Castle Museum, Jorvik Viking Centre (due to reopen next year), National Railway Museum and the York Maze in summer.
Things she avoids
“Taking your car. Parking is a nightmare. All the bigger car parks are on the periphery and down hills, so with small children that isn’t fun with their strollers.”